Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: Andrew Mac William recorded 13 points, all assists in 54 games in his second season with the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He recorded another five helpers in 18 playoff games with the club. MacWilliam was selected by Toronto in the seventh round (188th overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft.

2008-09: In his final season with Camrose, MacWilliam would add eight goals and 21 assists.

2009-10: MacWilliam entered his first NCAA Season on a deep North Dakota squad, playing in a limited role. In 43 games, he would only manage three assists, but would help his team to the NCAA (WCHA) Championship.

2010-11: MacWilliam skated in 37 games as a sophomore for WCHA champion North Dakota and provided a complementary stay-at-home partner to WCHA First Team All-Star Chay Genoway (MIN), an offensive-minded defenseman. MacWilliam had 8 assists and was +10 with 49 PMs for the Fighting Sioux.

2011-12: MacWilliam provided physical play in the defense corps for North Dakota; leading the team with 75 penalty minutes. Skating on the Fighting Sioux’ second pairing with freshman Nick Mattson (CHI), he was plus-13 and scored 2 goals with 5 assists in 42 games. North Dakota won the WCHA playoff title after finishing fourth during the season; defeating first place Minnesota and Denver on back-to-back nights to capture the Broadmoor Trophy. Minnesota returned the favor in the NCAA West Regional Final — defeating North Dakota, 5-2.

2012-13: MacWilliam signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in April of 2013 following his senior season at North Dakota. He played two AHL games with the Toronto Marlies in April and had no points nor penalty minutes. Toronto finished first in the North Division but MacWilliam did not appear in any playoff games. Skating with junior Dillon Simpson (Edmonton) on the top defensive pair for North Dakota, MacWilliam scored 2 goals with 11 assists and was +13 in 41 games. He led the Fighting Sioux with 116 penalty minutes. North Dakota was third in the WCHA and received an at-large NCAA bid after an overtime loss to Colorado College in the WCHA semifinals. The Fighting Sioux defeated Niagara in the NCAA West Regional semifinals before falling to national champion Yale, 4-1.

2013-14: MacWilliam skated in 57 of 76 regular season games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in his first pro season. He had 9 assists and was +3 with 96 penalty minutes. Toronto finished first in the North Division and reached the Western Conference finals — falling to Texas in a seven-game series. MacWilliam played in nine playoff games and was +2 with 1 assist and 8 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

MacWilliam is a character person both on and off the ice and has found his niche as a rugged defensive defender. He is capable of delivering punishing hits and anticipates the play well. He is mobile for his style of game, but could still use polishing. MacWilliam moves the puck efficiently from the back-end but is limited offensively.

Future

MacWilliam attended training camp with the Maple Leafs before being assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies at the start of the 2014-15 season. Seeing steady ice time in a shutdown role for the Marlies, he cut down on his penalty minutes while his plus/minus was much-improved from his first AHL season; earning an NHL call-up with the Leafs. Not re-signed by Toronto, he signed a one-year contract with Winnipeg as an unrestricted free agent. He began the 2015-16 season with the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Photo: Forward Spencer Abbott has been a standout for the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Abbott is in his second full season of professional hockey. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs strong start can be attributed to the depth they have accumulated over previous seasons. Under general manager Dave Nonis, the Maple Leafs continue to foster the development of their youth in hopes they will one day become NHL players.

Photo: Kitchener Rangers forward Josh Leivo was one of several Toronto Maple Leafs prospects to join that club’s minor-league affiliate at the completion of the junior hockey season (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Years of building the Toronto Maple Leafs from the ground up started to pay off for the club in the 2012-13 season. The Maple Leafs returned to the playoffs after a nine-year absence to play the Boston Bruins in round one. Toronto took Boston all the way to game seven and looked poised to head into the second round before a third period collapse changed everything. While it was a heartbreaking collapse which led to an overtime loss (and subsequent elimination) it provided a learning experience for a club which lacked playoff experience.

Photo: Defenseman Andrew MacWilliam recently signed an entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. MacWilliam spent the season playing for North Dakota. (courtesy of Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images)

The Maple Leafs have several prospects playing at the NCAA and European level. Tony Cameranesi boasts the most impressive season out of any NCAA prospect, while a strong performance from Swedish defenseman Tom Nilsson has earned him an entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs. All three of the Maple Leafs European prospects are Swedish.

Photo: Selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2008 draft, Jimmy Hayes was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. He is currently playing for the Blackhawks AHL affiliate. (courtesy of Warren Wimmer/Icon SMI)

With interim GM Cliff Fletcher at the helm (prior the arrival of Brian Burke) the Toronto Maple Leafs made eight selections at the 2008 NHL-Entry Draft including a coveted top-10 selection.